The Best Art Education Site Around, If I Do Say So Myself
Finally, a site all about art education from a veteran art teacher. I'm here to save you time and trouble searching the web by putting everything you need in one place!
Please note: I've only just begun this site--check back often (and soon!) because it'll be getting bigger and bigger!
The Best Art Teacher Websites Around (besides this one):
www.artsonia.com
I love this site because it has a TON of art lesson plans in all levels along with thousands of uploaded examples of student work that are sure to inspire. Beware: this site is seriously addictive!
www.artchive.com
Chances are you're already familiar with this site, but just in case, Artchive is a huge collection of famous artwork. The pictures are generally a high resolution so they're great for powerpoints.
www.vggallery.com
This site is so amazing! There are so many Van Gogh websites out there this one is easy to overlook but it contains ALL of Van Gogh's work! It has an excellent bio, a section about the forgery debate, his letter to Theo. Bookmark it!
www.picasa.google.com
I had to throw this one in--it's a great photo organizer plus suprisingly good photo editor, considering it's free! It helped me organize the bizillion pics I took of student work, student exhibits, etc.
http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/
This is the link to the Incredible Art Department. This site has a ton of art lessons with sample projects included--a must for me. Check this out when you've run out of inspiration.
Going to the Art Museum
Whether you're taking your students on a field trip or taking your own children on a trip to the museum, here are a few tips:
1. Don't walk in cold. Discuss a few artists whose work you know will be seen at the museum. In class, plan a few months ahead with pertinent art history lessons that will culminate with a trip to the museum. There's nothing better than studying an artist in class and then having students see "the real thing." This can be a thrilling, memorable moment for your children if you're willing to plan ahead. If not, it'll be just a bunch of pretty pictures with no meaning.
2. If you have to go in cold--maybe the trip is spur of the moment--prepare an activity for your children or students. If you homeschool your children--give them the assignment of picking out their Top 5 paintings. Have them write a small description of the work and why it's in their Top 5. When you get back home, do research on the artwork and artist.
3. Discuss museum etiquette before the trip. Unless you tell them, children won't realize they can't come up too close to a painting or, heaven forbid, touch a painting. Explain why some rooms are dimmed--to better preserve the works, often pastels. Discuss proper behavior at a museum.
4. Do as much research as possible about the layout of the museum and what works are a "must see". This will assure a smooth tour, without much backtracking.
Art Videos
Maybe it's just me, but most art videos I've wanted to show in class end up being a complete bust. Either they are painfully boring, having a narrator with a thick British accent and horrible music or there is something contained in the film that is not school appropriate. I can't think of the number of times I checked out a video for class just to have, halfway through, an inappropriate comment that makes it impossible to show students. Here is a very short list of videos I love to show my students, I wish it was longer but, like I said, I haven't had much luck. If you know of an excellent art video, let me know and I'll review it for the site!
Maya Lin - A Strong Clear Vision ~ Maya Lin (DVD - 2003)
The first time I saw this documentary, I was absolutely blown away. It is a slow, subtle film--for older students, it'll fly right over the little ones' heads--but it has an amazing message. Maya Lin is a true hero in our time and an example of how art can change the world.
Chihuly Short Cuts ~ Dale Chihuly (DVD - 2007)
Most students (and adults, for that matter) have no idea how glass art is made. I don't generally show the entire DVD, just my favorite sections. The first five minutes are the best, they show glassblowing in action.
Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists
Mike Venezia
If you're not familiar with the Venezia series of books and videos, check them out--you can generally find at least a couple at your local library. His videos make art history fun and even get a few laughs. While his series is aimed at elementary students, I've occasionally shown them to my high schoolers--they love them, too.
Venezia has videos for the following artists: Warhol, Leonardo da Vinci, Van Gogh, Michelangelo, Monet and Rembrandt.
Art 21
I've had some success with this PBS series. The sections are very short, geared toward upper grades, and I appreciate that they're based on living artists. Worth checking out.
French Impressionism at the Musee D'Orsay - Art and Splendor Series (2006)
Not the most upbeat video but with some beautiful examples, I appreciate the fact that students are exposed to both a museum and an artistc style.
Purchasing Supplies: A Few Tips
It's always an interesting experience--trying to navigate the murky waters of school budgets, ordering, POs, etc. My advice: sometimes, when you're new at a school, you're trying to make a good impression and don't want to rock the boat. Sorry, but this is the place to rock the boat--do it professionally, but make it understood that to be successful you need money for supplies! AND you need to be clearly informed of the process in getting those supplies.
If you're new at your school, ask the following questions:
-What EXACTLY is my budget?
Have you ever had this conversation:
You: How much money is in my budget?
Administrator: Well, how much do you need?
You: Well, how much do I get?
Administrator: Why don't you tell me how much you need and I'll tell you if that's too much.
Yeah, I've had this conversation or some version of it many times. Spending school money is always a delicate subject. It takes many years of experience to know exactly how much money you'll need to last throughout the year BUT if you have a budget to work with, you can plan ahead.
-Where can I order from?
Some larger districts have supply warehouses where they buy in bulk and receive big discounts. This is generally a great way to go--but most district warehouses only have the basics (markers, posterboard, pink erasers, etc.) Chances are, it won't fulfill all your needs.
If your school doesn't have a warehouse, ask if you can buy supplies with the school credit card or be reimbursed for your purchases. Often, schools will have agreements with certain stores that will accept purchase orders (POs). I absolutely love the beginning of fall when you can find excellent deals on school supplies. If you are allowed to use the school credit card or be reimbursed, I'd hit these sales hard. Once again, you'll just get the basics--glue (sometimes for a dime, I love it), markers, pencils, etc. but you won't find them any cheaper and if you're waiting on a catalog order, this will be enough to get you through a few weeks.
Catalogs
If you don't have a school warehouse and you can't got to stores for purchasing, you're stuck with catalogs. There are some pros to ordering from catalogs: there is an amazing selection you won't find at any store and everything is delivered right to your classroom door (if you have a good custodian). The one major con: you're budget will disappear in no time--they're expensive!
Orde early! I've put orders in during the first week of school and not received them until mid-October--just because of the rush of orders placed at the beginning of the school year. Start discussing your supply order with the appropriate people (administrator, clerk, receptionist) during the summer and have your order ready to be sent by the beginning of August, at the latest!
Catalog Companies:
The main companies are: Dick Blick, Sax, Nasco and Triarco. (I feel like I'm missing one, hmmm--let me know.)
Dick Blick is by far the most popular. You can usually count on Dick Blick brand paints, colored pencils, etc., to be decent quality.
Like you I'm sure, I've sat with all the different catalogs splayed out, tirelessly comparing Sax's price on gloss medium and kneadable erasers to Dick Blick and then cross-referencing with Nasco, blah, blah, blah. Overall, these are my findings: often, you'll save a little money on one product when you order with Blick, just to turn around and find out Sax is cheaper on another product, so, bottom line--it's pretty much a wash. Dick Blick is just a little more expensive, in my opinion.
Here's where to save your money: Do you have to pay sales tax? Do you have to pay shipping? You should NEVER pay either if your order is big enough (say over $250, maybe even less). Often, there'll be a big sticker on the front of the catalog saying "Free Shipping!" If it doesn't, give customer service a call and see if they're willng to give you free shipping--if not, go with another company.
Good Luck!!
Contemporary Artists You Must Teach!
Students often have a disconnect with the old masters, I love teaching them about artists who live and work RIGHT NOW. Here's a list of artists my students have loved studying:
Sandy Skoglund
Chuck Close
Dale Chihuly
Maya Lin
Audrey Flack
Bridget Riley
Susan Rothenberg
Jamie Wyeth
The Best Art Teacher Websites Around (besides this one):
www.artsonia.com
I love this site because it has a TON of art lesson plans in all levels along with thousands of uploaded examples of student work that are sure to inspire. Beware: this site is seriously addictive!
www.artchive.com
Chances are you're already familiar with this site, but just in case, Artchive is a huge collection of famous artwork. The pictures are generally a high resolution so they're great for powerpoints.
www.vggallery.com
This site is so amazing! There are so many Van Gogh websites out there this one is easy to overlook but it contains ALL of Van Gogh's work! It has an excellent bio, a section about the forgery debate, his letter to Theo. Bookmark it!
www.picasa.google.com
I had to throw this one in--it's a great photo organizer plus suprisingly good photo editor, considering it's free! It helped me organize the bizillion pics I took of student work, student exhibits, etc.
http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/
This is the link to the Incredible Art Department. This site has a ton of art lessons with sample projects included--a must for me. Check this out when you've run out of inspiration.
Going to the Art Museum
Whether you're taking your students on a field trip or taking your own children on a trip to the museum, here are a few tips:
1. Don't walk in cold. Discuss a few artists whose work you know will be seen at the museum. In class, plan a few months ahead with pertinent art history lessons that will culminate with a trip to the museum. There's nothing better than studying an artist in class and then having students see "the real thing." This can be a thrilling, memorable moment for your children if you're willing to plan ahead. If not, it'll be just a bunch of pretty pictures with no meaning.
2. If you have to go in cold--maybe the trip is spur of the moment--prepare an activity for your children or students. If you homeschool your children--give them the assignment of picking out their Top 5 paintings. Have them write a small description of the work and why it's in their Top 5. When you get back home, do research on the artwork and artist.
3. Discuss museum etiquette before the trip. Unless you tell them, children won't realize they can't come up too close to a painting or, heaven forbid, touch a painting. Explain why some rooms are dimmed--to better preserve the works, often pastels. Discuss proper behavior at a museum.
4. Do as much research as possible about the layout of the museum and what works are a "must see". This will assure a smooth tour, without much backtracking.
Art Videos
Maybe it's just me, but most art videos I've wanted to show in class end up being a complete bust. Either they are painfully boring, having a narrator with a thick British accent and horrible music or there is something contained in the film that is not school appropriate. I can't think of the number of times I checked out a video for class just to have, halfway through, an inappropriate comment that makes it impossible to show students. Here is a very short list of videos I love to show my students, I wish it was longer but, like I said, I haven't had much luck. If you know of an excellent art video, let me know and I'll review it for the site!
Maya Lin - A Strong Clear Vision ~ Maya Lin (DVD - 2003)
The first time I saw this documentary, I was absolutely blown away. It is a slow, subtle film--for older students, it'll fly right over the little ones' heads--but it has an amazing message. Maya Lin is a true hero in our time and an example of how art can change the world.
Chihuly Short Cuts ~ Dale Chihuly (DVD - 2007)
Most students (and adults, for that matter) have no idea how glass art is made. I don't generally show the entire DVD, just my favorite sections. The first five minutes are the best, they show glassblowing in action.
Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists
Mike Venezia
If you're not familiar with the Venezia series of books and videos, check them out--you can generally find at least a couple at your local library. His videos make art history fun and even get a few laughs. While his series is aimed at elementary students, I've occasionally shown them to my high schoolers--they love them, too.
Venezia has videos for the following artists: Warhol, Leonardo da Vinci, Van Gogh, Michelangelo, Monet and Rembrandt.
Art 21
I've had some success with this PBS series. The sections are very short, geared toward upper grades, and I appreciate that they're based on living artists. Worth checking out.
French Impressionism at the Musee D'Orsay - Art and Splendor Series (2006)
Not the most upbeat video but with some beautiful examples, I appreciate the fact that students are exposed to both a museum and an artistc style.
Purchasing Supplies: A Few Tips
It's always an interesting experience--trying to navigate the murky waters of school budgets, ordering, POs, etc. My advice: sometimes, when you're new at a school, you're trying to make a good impression and don't want to rock the boat. Sorry, but this is the place to rock the boat--do it professionally, but make it understood that to be successful you need money for supplies! AND you need to be clearly informed of the process in getting those supplies.
If you're new at your school, ask the following questions:
-What EXACTLY is my budget?
Have you ever had this conversation:
You: How much money is in my budget?
Administrator: Well, how much do you need?
You: Well, how much do I get?
Administrator: Why don't you tell me how much you need and I'll tell you if that's too much.
Yeah, I've had this conversation or some version of it many times. Spending school money is always a delicate subject. It takes many years of experience to know exactly how much money you'll need to last throughout the year BUT if you have a budget to work with, you can plan ahead.
-Where can I order from?
Some larger districts have supply warehouses where they buy in bulk and receive big discounts. This is generally a great way to go--but most district warehouses only have the basics (markers, posterboard, pink erasers, etc.) Chances are, it won't fulfill all your needs.
If your school doesn't have a warehouse, ask if you can buy supplies with the school credit card or be reimbursed for your purchases. Often, schools will have agreements with certain stores that will accept purchase orders (POs). I absolutely love the beginning of fall when you can find excellent deals on school supplies. If you are allowed to use the school credit card or be reimbursed, I'd hit these sales hard. Once again, you'll just get the basics--glue (sometimes for a dime, I love it), markers, pencils, etc. but you won't find them any cheaper and if you're waiting on a catalog order, this will be enough to get you through a few weeks.
Catalogs
If you don't have a school warehouse and you can't got to stores for purchasing, you're stuck with catalogs. There are some pros to ordering from catalogs: there is an amazing selection you won't find at any store and everything is delivered right to your classroom door (if you have a good custodian). The one major con: you're budget will disappear in no time--they're expensive!
Orde early! I've put orders in during the first week of school and not received them until mid-October--just because of the rush of orders placed at the beginning of the school year. Start discussing your supply order with the appropriate people (administrator, clerk, receptionist) during the summer and have your order ready to be sent by the beginning of August, at the latest!
Catalog Companies:
The main companies are: Dick Blick, Sax, Nasco and Triarco. (I feel like I'm missing one, hmmm--let me know.)
Dick Blick is by far the most popular. You can usually count on Dick Blick brand paints, colored pencils, etc., to be decent quality.
Like you I'm sure, I've sat with all the different catalogs splayed out, tirelessly comparing Sax's price on gloss medium and kneadable erasers to Dick Blick and then cross-referencing with Nasco, blah, blah, blah. Overall, these are my findings: often, you'll save a little money on one product when you order with Blick, just to turn around and find out Sax is cheaper on another product, so, bottom line--it's pretty much a wash. Dick Blick is just a little more expensive, in my opinion.
Here's where to save your money: Do you have to pay sales tax? Do you have to pay shipping? You should NEVER pay either if your order is big enough (say over $250, maybe even less). Often, there'll be a big sticker on the front of the catalog saying "Free Shipping!" If it doesn't, give customer service a call and see if they're willng to give you free shipping--if not, go with another company.
Good Luck!!
Contemporary Artists You Must Teach!
Students often have a disconnect with the old masters, I love teaching them about artists who live and work RIGHT NOW. Here's a list of artists my students have loved studying:
Sandy Skoglund
Chuck Close
Dale Chihuly
Maya Lin
Audrey Flack
Bridget Riley
Susan Rothenberg
Jamie Wyeth
Recommended Art Books
I actually own and can personally recommend all of these!
These books have helped me in so many ways.
The Art Teacher's Book of Lists (J-B Ed: Book of Lists)
Amazon Price: $21.75 (as of 11/29/2009) 
Vincent Van Gogh (Getting To Know The World's Greatest Artists)
Amazon Price: (as of 11/29/2009)
How to Teach Art to Children, Grades 1-6
Amazon Price: $14.95 (as of 11/29/2009)
Discovering Great Artists: Hands-On Art for Children in the Styles of the Great Masters (Bright Ideas for Learning)
Amazon Price: $12.89 (as of 11/29/2009)
A Survival Kit for the Elementary/Middle School Art Teacher (J-B Ed:Survival Guides)
Amazon Price: (as of 11/29/2009)
Advertise Yourself!
I love this site, if you've never seen it, check it out!
Here are a few products you can buy online, just for art teachers.
BBQ Apron
Price: 21.99
Create Design Enjoy Jr. Raglan
Price: 21.99
Happiness is being an ART TEA Tote Bag
Price: 17.99
I Love Art Rectangle Magnet
Price: 6.99
Great Stuff on eBay
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
(NAEA Conference is March 26, 2008)
by kdevan
I always promised myself when I had "free time," I'd make the ultimate guide for art teachers. Now that I'm home with my baby--this is as close to fr... (more)
Explore related pages
California Teacher Jobs- California Teacher Jobs - The state of California is one of the states with the...
Art Projects for Toddlers- My daughter goes to nursery school. I love the art projects they make in class s...
The Rubber Stamp Room- Welcome to the Rubber Stamp Room on Squidoo! Rubber stamping is a fun, easy, and...
Homeschool Fun - Arts and Crafts- Arts and crafts accounted for the majority of our early years of homeschooling....
Sketch Tuesday- Sketch Tuesday is a weekly e...
Artless Arthur- Poor Arthur is a few crayons short of a box . . . but he gets and A for effort!...
